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Miss Cherokee Kristen Smith-Snell lets children from Cherokee Nation Early Childhood Unit touch her bead necklaces at Cherokee Nation Cultural Day.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation recently hosted the fifth annual Cultural Day at the James Danielson Children's Village in Tahlequah. More than 200 pre-school age children strolled from booth to booth, experiencing Indian culture hands on.

"It's just a time to tell and feel and touch and look and ask questions if they want to," said Kristen Smith-Snell, current Miss Cherokee, as a group of about ten youngsters ran their fingers over her beaded necklace and tugged at the hem of her traditional tear dress.

The female students were also given an opportunity to wear traditional turtle shells on their ankles. The girls practiced shaking the shells and listening to the sounds that the turtle shells, filled with rocks and bottle caps, made as they stomped their small feet on the ground and danced around the room.

Another group of students congregated around Choogie Kingfisher as he demonstrated traditional flute music from a collection of wooden flutes that lay on the table in front of him. The room filled with 3 and 4 year olds turned quiet each time he began to play. Sounds of laughter and giggling turned into a calm sound of attention as all the little eyes in the room turned to Kingfisher.

"Children don't hear that all the time," said Sandra Turner, Cultural Day coordinator for the Cherokee Nation Early Childhood Unit. "It's just another type of music that they are not aware of. It just kind of calms them down."

More children watched Cherokee women weave baskets, played Cherokee Marbles, shot blow guns, got their faces painted, and made arts and crafts, all while munching on fry bread.

"Cultural Day is teaching the children and our teachers to preserve our cultural heritage and language," Turner said.

The Cherokee Nation Early Childhood Unit received a grant from Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) and Coca-Cola North America as part of their "Reading Takes You Places" partnership. The $25,000 grant supplied funding for two cast members from the "Trail of Tears Drama" to be able to perform for the children at Cultural Day. Two stars of the Cherokee Heritage Center's award winning "Trail of Tears Drama," Geninne Marie Washington, who starred as Anawake, and Will Hill, who portrayed Sequoyah, told the children elaborate stories and legends of "The Real People" that were originally told to Cherokee children long ago.

"This was the first time in the five year history of Cultural Day that we were able to have Sequoyah and Anawake," said Turner. "It was nice, the kids liked it."

The Cherokee Nation is planning another Cultural Day on October 29 at the Pryor Whitaker State Park for children who attend Cherokee Nation head starts and childcare programs in that area. For more information on Cultural Day activities, contact Sandra Turner, phone: 918-458-4393.